One take-away on the idea of Goals v. Systems is what I call ‘The Dilbert Diet’. Before going further, Scott points out you shouldn’t take health advice from a cartoonist and none of what he says is diet advice. It’s what he does. With that out of the way, let’s say you have a goal: Lose 10 pounds. You deny yourself certain foods. You’ve got to use willpower to achieve your ‘goal’. It’s painful. It hurts, and it usually doesn’t work out in the long run.

Scott suggestsreplacing Willpower with Knowledge. For example, Scott polls the audience on what they would choose from the world’s worst salad bar, which has only potatoes and pasta. He says those who chose the potatoes are going to get fat. Pasta, it turns out, has a lower glycemic index. Most people don’t know this. Pasta was the better choice if you wanted to maintain/lose weight. Knowledge over willpower is the key to making better food decisions which will lead to losing those 10 pounds. Systems, not goals.

Two more ‘diet data’ points from the keynote address: Scott notes studies show your body mistakes being tired for being hungry, and eating peanuts is correlated with lower weight. Scott says once he began using knowledge about foods accumulated over time instead of willpower, he dropped 20 pounds though he eats all day long. When he’s hungry, he eats peanuts.

You need a Talent Stack

Scott’s not a fan of goals. According to Scott, Losers have goals, Winners have systems. He says having a goal is like riding on horseback in the mist and fog while shooting an arrow at a moving target at full gallop. And you only have ONE arrow. Sure, once in awhile someone actually hits the target. Then they write a book about the importance of Goals. Instead of goals, use systems. Scott says “systems” are skills and relationships you develop over time. These, in turn, become your “talent stack”. With a proper talent stack you don’t have to be the best in the world at one thing. Scott explains he’s not the best artist, best comedian, or the best author. He’s easily in the top 20 percent of each though. His combination of those skills gave us Dilbert. Combine two or three skills in your own talent stack. Be sure one of those talents is Public Speaking. Scott estimates you’ll be 90 percent ahead of everyone else if you do.